Pittsburgh-set 鈥楧own on James Street鈥� aims to engage young readers
An alum鈥檚 newly published children鈥檚 picture book with social justice undertones is rooted in lessons learned at 麻豆精品.
鈥淒own on James Street,鈥� a work of fiction by 2008 alumna Nicole McCandless, was inspired by a 1930s event on Pittsburgh鈥檚 North Side that McCandless learned about in a Carlow history class. The incident reportedly involved the closing of a popular James Street jazz bar because of interracial dancing.
鈥淭hat story just kind of stuck with me,鈥� McCandless said. 鈥淲hen I started to write seriously, this was the first story that I wanted to do. The question was, 鈥楬ow do I turn an event that I really don鈥檛 know anything about into creating a story for children?鈥欌��
The book, illustrated by Byron Gramby, features characters Dorothy, a Black woman, and George, a white man who must decide between white privilege and helping his friend reopen the dance. 鈥淎 big part of Catholic social teaching is when to lead and when to follow, and George learned to trust Dorothy and to follow her,鈥� McCandless said.
McCandless said she is motivated to write books that address racism, police violence, white privilege and other issues that are not easily discussed with children.
McCandless said the book contains jazz music and dance moves as well as serious issues. “But it is also a fun book where kids learn about the Lindy Hop and different kinds of sounds and music styles as well,鈥� she said.
McCandless said she learned about Catholic social teaching, solidarity and taking action at Carlow, where she was a history major with minors in sociology and women鈥檚 studies.
While there, she led a student Peace and Justice Club that focused on labor abuses in sweatshops and advocated for Carlow鈥檚 participation in the Worker Rights Consortium. She later worked as a labor organizer in Pittsburgh, Pa.
鈥淒own on James Street鈥� was presented via Zoom April 30 by the Cultural Theory Historical Practices Lecture Series and The Social Justice Institutes.
Joel Woller, assistant professor of history, was McCandless鈥� student advisor and narrator for the book presentation.
鈥淎s a student activist, Nicole heard cries for justice from women and girls of color, often from the other side of the world. Yet she also understood that these seemingly distant sweatshop workers are in fact an essential part of our Carlow community, since they make the uniforms and bookstore merchandise that bears our logo,鈥� Woller said. 鈥淪he recognized their dignity and responded with mercy and solidarity.鈥�
Woller said her book embodies the creative, ethical, scholarly and activist spirit of Carlow.
鈥淣icole vividly re-creates the fun and excitement of 1930s jazz and swing dancing. The result is an engaging, entertaining, educational and thought-provoking antiracist story for ages 6-12 and up,鈥� he said.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean Matthew Gordley, PhD, said McCandless鈥� work is a unique combination of historical investigation, artistic imagination and creative expression to help young readers engage with a complex and timely issue.
鈥淣icole鈥檚 book is a great embodiment of Carlow鈥檚 values, as it demonstrates how a liberal arts approach to understanding the human experience can help us reflect on the past to inform the present and to foster the perspectives that can lead to a better future,鈥� Gordley said. 鈥淚t is really wonderful to see the creative and important work that a history graduate like Nicole has been able to produce.鈥�
McCandless resides in Pittsburgh’s South Hills with her husband Ben and children Jeffrey, Sarah and Samuel.